Shadows Between the Frames

“Hmm….”

While looking at each painting one by one, Jaekyung carefully copied the explanations written beside them by hand.

It would’ve been easier to take photos, but if you really wanted to remember something, writing it out was always the best way.

Ah….

He had definitely overworked himself these past few days, because his vision was starting to blur.

He was still young, but fatigue was never a good thing.

When Jaekyung rubbed his eyes, the staff member that Director Ji had assigned to him asked carefully if he was all right.

Startled that the director might hear about it, Jaekyung quickly said he was fine and went back to working hard on his given task.

“Then, that’s it for the paintings today… I’ll show you how to manage the storage room.”

It was ten at night.

Director Ji still hadn’t gone home.

Jaekyung thought to himself that he probably wouldn’t be home before midnight again today, and followed behind the custodian.

Then it happened.

It was late, and the gallery doors were already locked, yet there was commotion near the entrance.

The custodian who had been standing next to Jaekyung ran toward the door in surprise and greeted someone warmly.

“Director Han, welcome.”

Jaekyung’s ears couldn’t believe it.

Who had just arrived?

His eyes wavered.

What should he do?

Should he greet him?

No… maybe it was someone else.

But really, how many Han Taeseoks could there be in the world, especially from NI Company?

The man surrounded by others as he entered was indeed his fiancé, Han Taeseok.

It had been two weeks since they last met—with lawyers present at that.

They hadn’t exchanged a single call or message in the meantime, their relationship now colder than strangers.

As he opened the door and came in with his entourage, their eyes met for the first time.

The man looked straight at Jaekyung and walked toward him.

Caught off guard by the sudden gaze in those deep eyes, Jaekyung, flustered and foolish, quickly bowed his head.

The man stopped right in front of him.

He should greet him… right?

Jaekyung gripped his notebook tightly and began to lift his head to speak.

But it was too late.

The man walked past him toward Director Ji.

Jaekyung lowered his head again.

“Who’s this?”

He heard Director Ji’s warm, friendly voice.

It was the first time he’d ever heard her speak in such a soft, affectionate tone.

“What brings you here?”

“I had business nearby and decided to stop by.”

The second voice—his.

“Of course you did. You’re not the type to come here on purpose. Cold as always. Anyway, I heard you did something big today.”

“It wouldn’t have been possible without Father.”

“So modest….”

“It’s getting late, Mother. Let me take you home.”

“Shall we?”

Director Ji laughed happily.

Soon, wearing her red cashmere coat, she walked over to Jaekyung, who stood clutching his notebook.

Without a word, she pulled it from his arms and examined his notes carefully.

“To think you’re only learning the basics now… How long will this take, I wonder.”

“I’m sorry.”

He could feel not only Director Ji’s gaze but also Han Taeseok’s.

That condescending, superior look made his stomach twist with discomfort.

“I’m already worried about when I’ll have to teach you about the family.”

Clicking her tongue, Director Ji handed the notebook back.

“Memorize all five paintings here before you go.

If you can’t, your wedding will never happen.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Let’s go.”

She linked her arm with her son’s, quite deliberately, and walked away.

She didn’t even bother introducing him—her son’s fiancé.

Why?

And Han Taeseok, too.

He could’ve said something, couldn’t he?

But no, he just stood there and watched.

Exactly like the kind of man all those internet articles warn you not to marry.

Jaekyung couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

It felt like knowingly walking into a swamp, aware of every bit of the mud ahead.

“Can you hurry up?”

The custodian, who had been curt but polite earlier, now showed his true colors as soon as Director Ji left.

If Jaekyung didn’t finish quickly, he couldn’t go home either, so he snapped irritably.

Jaekyung also wanted to leave, so he quickly focused and memorized the paintings as ordered.

Luckily, he wasn’t slow at learning, and he managed to finish earlier than expected.

But even so, by the time he reached home, it was two in the morning.

Dragging his exhausted body, he collapsed on his bed and opened his phone to see how the world had turned while he’d been buried in work.

Between the gallery duties and the constant handovers, he barely had time to check if the Earth was still spinning properly.

— NI Company’s Director Han Taeseok Secures ₩1 Trillion Project in Malaysia.

Out of habit, Jaekyung opened the economy section, and his finger automatically stopped at the main headline.

That familiar name drew him in as naturally as breathing.

The article praised, from start to finish, how monumental and beneficial Han Taeseok’s project was for the nation.

Even if NI Company had released a press statement, this level of glorification was unusual.

The comments were a mix—some cynical, others overwhelmingly full of praise.

When he scrolled back up, he saw the picture of Han Taeseok signing the contract.

It was the same face he’d seen just hours ago… and yet, somehow, it felt foreign.

“Come to think of it… I don’t know a single thing about this man.”

Han Taeseok had surely finished investigating every detail about him.

But Jaekyung only knew his name and birthdate.

He’d only recently found out that the man was actually younger than him.

He thought that this couldn’t go on.

Sitting up in bed, he grabbed his laptop and began searching Han Taeseok’s name online.

He combed through every article, every public document he could find.

Even if Han had no interest in him, that didn’t mean he should do the same.

At the very least, he needed to try.

Yes.

If he couldn’t avoid it, he might as well make the best of it.

That thought alone swept away his fatigue.

All through the night, Jaekyung studied and learned everything he could about the man named Han Taeseok.

And two days later… he came to the gallery again.

This time, earlier in the day.

As soon as their eyes met, Jaekyung didn’t hesitate.

He smiled confidently and greeted him first.

“Hello.”

Han Taeseok’s steps stopped.

“It’s quite cold today, isn’t it?”

He had practiced that line over and over—like a courtier preparing to greet a king.

“…Yes, it is.”

Han replied briefly, just as expected.

Cold as ever.

But perhaps Jaekyung had grown used to it; he didn’t expect warmth anymore.

Maybe he should be thankful the man even responded at all.

“Ah.”

As Jaekyung turned back to focus on the paintings, Han, who had been walking toward Director Ji, suddenly stopped and turned back to him.

Startled, Jaekyung forced a smile to hide his surprise.

“The wedding announcement will go public tomorrow.

You’ve been informed, yes?”

“Ah… no, I haven’t.”

So it was tomorrow.

Finally.

“Be mindful of your behavior.

You wouldn’t want unnecessary rumors.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

Of course.

What else would he have to say to him?

As Han walked away, Jaekyung sighed and looked at his cold back, uselessly, helplessly.

◆

“Um… So this button here is for scanning barcodes during checkout, right?”

It was Jaekyung’s first day at the convenience store.

He listened carefully as the manager trained him.

The manager, pleased with how quickly Jaekyung learned, nodded with a smile.

“You’re doing great, Jaekyung.”

“Thank you!”

It had been so long since he’d been praised.

He couldn’t help but smile brightly in return.

The manager, delighted by his cheerful attitude and quick learning, eagerly began teaching him more things.

It was tiring, having to learn so much so fast, but it wasn’t as hard as working at the gallery.

Back then, it had been mentally exhausting more than anything else.

“Think you can handle it alone starting tonight?”

“Yes, please trust me.

If anything comes up, I’ll call.”

“Good, good.

Then I’ll leave you to it.”

“Yes!”

Usually, a new part-timer would get at least a day or two of close supervision.

But seeing the manager head home confidently made Jaekyung unsure whether to feel happy or abandoned.

He scratched his nose lightly and glanced around the small convenience store.

This was his post until morning.

He’d managed a huge gallery once.

Sure, the items there were fewer, but it had been busy and complex in its own way.

And the money flowing through that place… was incomparable.

This was nothing.

Thankfully, it was a quiet weekday night.

Aside from a bit of sleepiness, everything went smoothly.

Out of boredom, he opened his phone and tapped the news app out of habit, going straight to the economy section.

— NI Company Executive Director Han Taeseok Signs Technology Partnership with U.S. AI Firm.

…He’d done it again.

Except now, the title had changed from “Director” to “Executive Director.”

The company he’d partnered with was famous for never sharing its technology with anyone.

Jaekyung knew he’d been pursuing that deal for years.

Of course, Han had never told him that himself—he’d learned it from articles and others.

Jaekyung smiled bitterly.

This time, he didn’t even look at the man’s photo.

Instead, he scrolled past and stared at pictures of handsome celebrities—anything to erase that face from his mind.

It had been a week since their divorce.

And still, not a single message from him.